Alternatives to Thailand

[glalt]

Glalt: And, what kind of government do you think Cambodia has? How different is it from the governments of Laos and Vietnam? All three of them are tainted with communism.

A dictator is better than the communist party.

[tamada]

You weren't trying to frame him, were you?

I had heard of the Gambia, but think it might be a bit on the primitive side, and health issues might be a worry.

13 reasons The Gambia should be your next holiday

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/dest ... he-gambia/

[robytoby1960]

Do you think that anybody here in this topic will go anywhere in the world to watch BIRDS? Especially in Gambia???

[SJP17]

After 15 years in Thailand, 7 of which were in Phuket, 1 in Udon and the last 7 in Nong Khai, I relocated back to the UK in 2015, and have been visiting LOS about once a year since.

I am thinking, as I have no ties to LOS whether there are any countries with similar characteristics that I could visit or stay for periods of up to 3 months, instead. I have researched and considered Vietnam, Cambodia, the PI's and Malaysia, and have I think rejected those for the usual reasons,- lack of infrastructure, safety, medical facilities etc. (I have read Bob's reviews of some of those places with interest, thanks).

Ideally I would be looking for a warm+ climate, friendly natives, particularly the female ones, a low cost of living (good exchange rate to the £, - if there is anywhere left now that doesn't have a stronger x rate than sterling!!) and preferably easy to get there, I detest long haul flights.

Does a suitable place still exist? (Sensible replies only please).

Did you just get fed up with Thailand ?

[arjay]

After 15 years in Thailand, 7 of which were in Phuket, 1 in Udon and the last 7 in Nong Khai, I relocated back to the UK in 2015, and have been visiting LOS about once a year since.

I am thinking, as I have no ties to LOS whether there are any countries with similar characteristics that I could visit or stay for periods of up to 3 months, instead. I have researched and considered Vietnam, Cambodia, the PI's and Malaysia, and have I think rejected those for the usual reasons,- lack of infrastructure, safety, medical facilities etc. (I have read Bob's reviews of some of those places with interest, thanks).

Ideally I would be looking for a warm+ climate, friendly natives, particularly the female ones, a low cost of living (good exchange rate to the £, - if there is anywhere left now that doesn't have a stronger x rate than sterling!!) and preferably easy to get there, I detest long haul flights.

Does a suitable place still exist? (Sensible replies only please).

Did you just get fed up with Thailand ?

SJP, It was primarily a case of health issues, and not being able to get to the bottom of them in Thailand, along with the prospect of old age approaching and health issues that arise with that. Other factors included, having reached age 65 and receiving a UK state pension, I would not receive the annual increases if I continued to live in Thailand. There was also a touch of anxiety/insecurity creeping in, from things like having to drive myself to hospital when ill (Nong Khai to Udon), not to mention the varying bureaucratic requirements of visa extensions (and which hoop am I to jump through this year!). The poor exchange rate. Plus I didn't want to finish my days in a bar. So I decided to reverse the situation, relocate back to the UK, where I now have a base, and then visit Thailand, as and when. I brought my wife back with me. (But, yes, it is a long and cold winter here!)

[SJP17]

After 15 years in Thailand, 7 of which were in Phuket, 1 in Udon and the last 7 in Nong Khai, I relocated back to the UK in 2015, and have been visiting LOS about once a year since.

I am thinking, as I have no ties to LOS whether there are any countries with similar characteristics that I could visit or stay for periods of up to 3 months, instead. I have researched and considered Vietnam, Cambodia, the PI's and Malaysia, and have I think rejected those for the usual reasons,- lack of infrastructure, safety, medical facilities etc. (I have read Bob's reviews of some of those places with interest, thanks).

Ideally I would be looking for a warm+ climate, friendly natives, particularly the female ones, a low cost of living (good exchange rate to the £, - if there is anywhere left now that doesn't have a stronger x rate than sterling!!) and preferably easy to get there, I detest long haul flights.

Does a suitable place still exist? (Sensible replies only please).

Did you just get fed up with Thailand ?

SJP, It was primarily a case of health issues, and not being able to get to the bottom of them in Thailand, along with the prospect of old age approaching and health issues that arise with that. Other factors included, having reached age 65 and receiving a UK state pension, I would not receive the annual increases if I continued to live in Thailand. There was also a touch of anxiety/insecurity creeping in, from things like having to drive myself to hospital when ill (Nong Khai to Udon), not to mention the varying bureaucratic requirements of visa extensions (and which hoop am I to jump through this year!). The poor exchange rate. Plus I didn't want to finish my days in a bar. So I decided to reverse the situation, relocate back to the UK, where I now have a base, and then visit Thailand, as and when. I brought my wife back with me. (But, yes, it is a long and cold winter here!)

Sound move then and you can enjoy holidays with your wife when required sort out health issues free and less stress will improve your well being.

Yes the issues you covered are very important to many i can imagine health care being number 1 though current exchange rates must really be putting the squeeze on some expats.

Which is making me consider going for health care insurance for later down the road when i retire.

[arjay]

Sound move then and you can enjoy holidays with your wife when required sort out health issues free and less stress will improve your well being.

Yes the issues you covered are very important to many i can imagine health care being number 1 though current exchange rated must really be puuting the squeeze on some expats.

Which is making me consider going for health care insurance for later down the road when i retire.

SJP, Yes, there are some prescription items that (3 years back @50bt to £1) cost about £100 in Thailand, and that I am not charged for in the UK.

One of the frustrations living back in the UK with an Asian wife, is that she needs a visa to go to any European country, (at least until she has been here 5+ years and has obtained British citizenship). Obtaining a Schengen visa entails a pre-booked appointment at the appropriate Embassy in London, which from where we live necessitates about 4 hours travel each way and an overnight stay in London, - all which adds up to the cost of a holiday to a European destination! Thus we tend to be forced to travel to the Far East destinations where there are no visa issues, or of course stay here. That was where the references to Cape Verde islands and Gambia and came from. She can get a visa on arrival in those places.

Though at C 37 baht to £1 currently, it tends to be a disincentive to go anywhere other than Gibraltar or the Channel Islands!!

[747man]

Sound move then and you can enjoy holidays with your wife when required sort out health issues free and less stress will improve your well being.

Yes the issues you covered are very important to many i can imagine health care being number 1 though current exchange rated must really be puuting the squeeze on some expats.

Which is making me consider going for health care insurance for later down the road when i retire.

SJP, Yes, there are some prescription items that (3 years back @50bt to £1) cost about £100 in Thailand, and that I am not charged for in the UK.

One of the frustrations living back in the UK with an Asian wife, is that she needs a visa to go to any European country, (at least until she has been here 5+ years and has obtained British citizenship). Obtaining a Schengen visa entails a pre-booked appointment at the appropriate Embassy in London, which from where we live necessitates about 4 hours travel each way and an overnight stay in London, - all which adds up to the cost of a holiday to a European destination! Thus we tend to be forced to travel to the Far East destinations where there are no visa issues, or of course stay here. That was where the references to Cape Verde islands and Gambia and came from. She can get a visa on arrival in those places.

Though at C 37 baht to £1 currently, it tends to be a disincentive to go anywhere other than Gibraltar or the Channel Islands!!

I Know it's Sh*t, But It's Still just about 40 Baht to the Pound Here Richard,Is it ONLY 37 There ??

[glalt]

Some think the simple answer is to get Thai health insurance. Obviously you have not tried that route. When you hit 65 years old, the premiums would make you choke. That's if you could even get health insurance. I had insurance for a number of years and my policy stated that they could never cancel me because of age. There was no mention of pricing me out, which they did. I am now self insured.

[yartims]

The Gambia

apparently the Gambia has fallen off in terms of chummy women who wont leave you alone ..dunno whats happened ..time was when elderly gents with a bad leg were seen with hot babes wandering the streets doing the old GFE

[yartims]

Merthyr Tydfil.....

It's in south Wales UK.

haha might as well recommend canvey island

[hairyharry]

Kings Holiday Camp no less

[747man]

I Believe Jaywick Sands is Quite Nice.....

[saint]

Damascus is cheap at the moment .

[747man]

Damascus is cheap at the moment .

So Is Caracas Doug.....

[Jhonny]

Vietnam is a really great place.I have just been there for two weeks. It is a beautiful country with some of the most friendliest people I met in SEA. The cost of living is also very reasonable as mentioned by fdimike above. Da Nang is a nice city.

[Canman63]

Just returned from danang, nicest city I have seen in 9 years in Asia. By far, clean, cheap, great people, easy visa( no 800k), international airport, 20 mile beach, river and boardwalk in the city centre, beautiful woman. $1 beer. Great expat and tourist base, no rift raft. The country actually wNts us there, unlike Thailand. Weather is fabulous also.
Goodbye Thailand.!!!!!!!

[TicToc]

Canman 63
Any pictures you can share with us?

[DuiDui49]

Just returned from danang, nicest city I have seen in 9 years in Asia. By far, clean, cheap, great people, easy visa( no 800k), international airport, 20 mile beach, river and boardwalk in the city centre, beautiful woman. $1 beer. Great expat and tourist base, no rift raft. The country actually wNts us there, unlike Thailand. Weather is fabulous also.
Goodbye Thailand.!!!!!!!

easy visa

what kind of VISA is "easy"?Retirement VISA or Tourist VISA?

[tamada]

The Gambia

..time was when elderly gents with a bad leg were seen with hot babes wandering the streets doing the old GFE

Could have sworn I witnessed the very same on Soi Sampan just last month while filling my pie hole at Harry's Handlebar. One athletic chap was observed simply hurtling towards the Viking Bar on his zimmer.